Govt bans telecast of Nirbhaya documentary

New Delhi: The Information & Broadcasting Ministry has issued an advisory to all news channels against showing the Nirbhaya documentary titled ‘India’s Daughter’.Earlier, the Delhi Police approached a court of law seeking a restrain order on telecast of the documentary which the court granted.

In a statement, Delhi Police PRO Rajan Bhagat said, “British film maker Leslee Udwin from BBC interviewed Mukesh Singh, one of the convicts of Nirbhaya gang-rape case in which he had made offensive and derogatory remarks against women creating an atmosphere of fear and tension with the possibility of public outcry and law and order situation. Thus a case FIR no.29/15 ps Eow u/s 66A IT act, 504, 505(1)(b), 509 IPC was registered. Further a request was made to the duty MM Shri Puneet Pahwa seeking restrain on telecast /publishing/ transmission of the said interview in view of possible law and order problem. The court has passed order prohibiting the publication/ transmission of the interview till further orders.”

The interview of Mukesh Singh , one of convicts of Nirbhaya gang-rape case that took place on Dec 16, 2012, by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin has created furore in India with Home Minister Rajnath Singh intervening and then Delhi Police registering an FIR in the shooting of the interview.

The police registered the case under Section 509 (outraging the modesty of women) and Section 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Yesterday, the Home Minister took a strong exception to the whole episode and sought a detailed report from the Tihar Jail chief on the whole issue. The interview was conducted inside the jail premises.Reports said British filmmaker Leslee Udwin and the BBC were given permission to interview bus driver Mukesh, who was awarded death sentence for the brutal rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl on December 16, 2012.

Udwin said that the film is her attempt to examine the attitude of men towards women.

Udwin also claimed that she took permission from the then Director General of Tijar Jail Vimla Mehra before interviewing the convict.